Covid inquiry chair ‘may have to quit’ if denied access to Johnson WhatsApps

Lawyer for bereaved families says Heather Hallett would be unable to do job if government blocks release

The chair of the UK Covid-19 public inquiry may have to resign if the government succeeds in its high court attempt to block the unredacted disclosure of ministers’ WhatsApp messages, the lawyer representing thousands of bereaved families has said.

Elkan Abrahamson, who represents the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, which is a core participant at the inquiry, said the dispute between the government and the inquiry over texts and other documents had become “an existential struggle”.

He said if the inquiry did not receive the potential evidence “the only logical response of the chair is to resign because she can’t properly do her job”.

The intervention increases pressure on Rishi Sunak to back down in the power struggle over an inquiry that was set up by a government in which he was a senior member. It shows the inquiry risks losing the support of thousands of bereaved people if the government’s case succeeds.

On Tuesday, the chair, Heather Hallett, is expected to address the Cabinet Office’s decision to seek a judicial review of her demand for the texts stored on phones owned by Boris Johnson and one of his advisers, as well as the former prime minister’s notebooks. The government has said much of the material is “unambiguously irrelevant”, amid fears it could open the door for wider disclosure of senior politicians’ messages, but Lady Hallett argues its relevance is for her to decide.

The inquiry declined to comment on Abrahamson’s view.

The lawyer was speaking at a press conference in central London where unions and the bereaved demanded the effects of austerity since 2010 be investigated in the three-year inquiry.

Some participants are concerned the inquiry may not have allocated sufficient time to cross-examine the then prime minister, David Cameron, and the chancellor at the time, George Osborne, on issues such as funding of the NHS, welfare and social care in the years before the pandemic.

Abrahamson’s call for Hallett to consider quitting was backed by Lobby Akinnola, whose 60-year-old father died with Covid in April 2020.

“If the court finds against the inquiry, it is effectively rendering the inquiry lame,” he said. “She has made it clear she is committed to do a good inquiry [and] ... I would fully understand her saying if she can’t do it then she won’t do it.”

Children’s charities have attacked the inquiry for making “no provision to hear from children who lost access to play, seeing their friends and education”.

Save the Children UK, Just for Kids Law and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England said the inquiry’s promised “listening exercise” had not made it clear how children would be included.

An online form for people to share their experiences excludes those aged under 18, “which potentially denies 14 million children from having their say”, the charities said.

In May 2022, Hallett widened the terms of reference to include “children and young people, including the impact on health, wellbeing and social care education and early years provision”.

Taking evidence directly from children is not yet on the cards, partly because of the significant increase in safeguarding required, although the inquiry has not ruled it out.

The inquiry said it was developing the best ways for under-18s to engage with the inquiry safely and in an appropriate format, taking advice from experts in child protection.

Contributor

Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Government to take legal action against Covid inquiry over Johnson WhatsApps
Cabinet Office serves notice on inquiry chair at 4pm, the deadline she had set for it to hand over files

Aubrey Allegretti and Peter Walker

02, Jun, 2023 @7:44 AM

Article image
Boris Johnson hands over WhatsApp messages directly to Covid inquiry
Former PM bypasses government’s attempts to keep unredacted communications secret

Aubrey Allegretti and Kiran Stacey

02, Jun, 2023 @2:58 PM

Article image
Covid-19 inquiry to examine Boris Johnson WhatsApp messages
Messages between Johnson and officials requested alongside cabinet minutes for second stage of inquiry

Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent

31, Oct, 2022 @4:14 PM

Article image
Covid inquiry: Boris Johnson ‘to admit he made mistakes’
Ex-PM also reportedly to argue at inquiry next week that his actions saved many thousands of lives

Casper Hughes

02, Dec, 2023 @1:29 PM

Article image
Earlier lockdown could have saved lives of 30,000, Hancock tells Covid inquiry
Ex-health secretary has described Boris Johnson’s Downing Street as undermined by ‘culture of fear’

Peter Walker Deputy political editor

30, Nov, 2023 @6:12 PM

Article image
Patrick Vallance contradicts Rishi Sunak’s evidence to Covid inquiry
PM would almost certainly have known concerns over ‘eat out to help out’ scheme, says former chief scientific adviser

Peter Walker and agencies

20, Nov, 2023 @11:17 PM

Article image
Covid inquiry chair rejects journalist’s fear of ‘colossal whitewash’
Heather Hallett hits back at scepticism that Isabel Oakeshott says led her to share Matt Hancock messages

Ben Quinn

01, Mar, 2023 @2:24 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson called Treasury ‘the pro-death squad’, Covid inquiry told
Incumbent PM made joke about Rishi Sunak’s department because of its focus on lifting restrictions, according to diary entries

Peter Walker Deputy political editor

06, Nov, 2023 @2:41 PM

Article image
A look inside Boris Johnson’s ‘feral’ No 10: this week at the Covid inquiry
Seven key moments, including top civil servants’ exasperation at chaotic environment in Downing Street

Peter Walker Deputy political editor

10, Nov, 2023 @1:12 PM

Article image
Cabinet minister says government has ‘nothing to hide’ from Covid inquiry
Mel Stride’s comments follow Rishi Sunak being accused of attempting to cover up actions of senior MPs

Aletha Adu Political correspondent

31, May, 2023 @8:57 AM